Our insect of the week for February 9, 2026 is Epimartyria auricrinella (the goldcap moss-eater moth) [LEPIDOPTERA: Micropterigidae]. It was described by Thomas Walsingham [an English politician and amateur entomologist] in 1898. We are once again focusing on Lepidoptera.

This species is known from eastern pats of the United States, including central Illinois. It is often found in moist shaded locations (often where liverworts grow).

Members of this family and relatives are considered the most primitive Lepidoptera. One of the defining characters of this insect order is the presence of sucking mouthparts (a proboscis); except when they have chewing mouthparts as in this species. Adults can often be observed feeding on pollen of trees and shrubs.

Adults are active in the daytime; mating usually takes place in the afternoon.

Larvae feed exclusively on liverworts. Mature larvae can be up to 5 mm in total length. They posess a plastron which would suggest they can be submerged for some period of time. It is though larval development spans 2 years. Actually, not that much is known about this species.

This specimen shown was collected and photographed by Frank Hitchell in Peoria County, Illinois.